"In February 1946, J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly were about to unveil, for the first time, an electronic computer to the world. Their ENIAC, or Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, could churn 5000 addition problems in one second, far faster than any device yet invented. The scientists knew that they had created something that would change history, but they weren't sure how to convey their breakthrough to the public. So they painted numbers on some light bulbs and screwed the resulting 'translucent spheres' into ENIAC's panels. Dynamic, flashy lights would thereafter be associated with the computer in the public mind." Yes boys and girls, 60 years ago the groundwork was laid for that grey thing hooked up to that thing you're staring at right now.

Not the Eniac but the Z3, made by Konrad Zuse in 1941, was the first digital programmable computer: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuse . Because the machine was developed under the Nazi regime, little is known about it in the english speaking hemisphere. So we are actually celebrating the 65th anniversary.